SPIRITUAL COUNTER STRATEGIES: VICTORY OVER HUMAN PERSONALITIES

In a previous chapter on transference of spirits the importance of carefully selecting friends and associates was stressed. This is an important counter strategy in gaining victory over attacks of Satan launched through others. Choosing close associates carefully will eliminate much deception, desertion, disagreement, wrong counsel, and hindering of spiritual progress. But two

other important counter strategies bring victory over human personalities.

First: Obey God rather than man.

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29)

Second: Follow others only as they follow God.

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. (I Corinthians 11:1) Be ye therefore followers of God... (Ephesians 5:1)

Do not accept counsel or prophecies from anyone when they do not agree with God's written Word. Do not admire or follow the leadership of those whose lives do not line up with God's Word. Recognize you will only be successful as long as you follow God's plan for your life. You will not be successful in emulating others. You must not be diverted by those around you. You must rely on revelation, not imitation.

Although those around you may manipulate circumstances that affect you, remember that God is still in control. Although Joseph experienced such an attack through human personalities, God turned it for his good:

So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God... (Genesis 45:8)

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. (Genesis 50:20)

STRATEGIES OF SATAN: ATTACKS ON THE FAMILY

The family is the basic unit of society established by God in the beginning of the world when He first created man. God has always emphasized the family. He raised up a nation of chosen people from the family of one man, Abraham. He selected the physical union of a man and his wife to describe the spiritual union between Christ and the church. Throughout the Scriptures, God stressed the importance of the family in His plan of the ages.

The family is the basic structure from which all other structures stem. Government and religious leaders are raised in families. Communities and nations consist of many families grouped together. Because of the importance of this basic unit of society, the family is a target for attack by Satan.

Satan attacks the union between a man and his wife. He tries to cause improper sexual relationships which will result in sin (I Corinthians 7:5). He leads men and women into the sin of adultery (Galatians 5:19). He tries to get one partner to influence the other to turn away from God (Job 2). Satan promotes division in the home. This can range from arguments through divorce. Satan tries to bring division because he knows....

...Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand. (Matthew 12:25)

If Satan can bring division and destroy the homes of a nation, he can eventually destroy the nation itself.

God established a chain of command in the home. The man is to be the head of the home and love his wife. The wife is to follow his leadership and the children are to be in submission to their parents (I Corinthians 7; Ephesians 5:1-6:1). Satan targets the man of the home and tempts him to act in unloving ways. This results in a loss of respect and obedience from the wife and children. Satan tempts the wife to act in rebellion against the husband. Satan targets the children in a home. He creates an atmosphere of lack of discipline which results in rebellion. Read the story of Eli's sons in I Samuel 2 and of David's son, Absalom, in II Samuel 13-19. Jesus warned of the attacks of the enemy in the home:

For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. (Luke 12:52-53)

SPIRITUAL COUNTER STRATEGIES: VICTORY IN THE FAMILY

Many problems in the family unit can be avoided if believers choose their mate properly. The Bible warns that believers are not to marry unbelievers:

Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3)

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (II Corinthians 6:14)

When a family unit is composed of believers and unbelievers, spiritual division exists. This division is not a conflict between flesh and blood. It is a spiritual conflict. It cannot be won by harsh words or through debate and argument.

Satan fights the unity of the family because it is a natural parallel of the unity between Christ and the church. Believers must recognize this and declare:

...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)

As heir of the promise of Abraham, you can also claim the promise "In thee shall all the families

of the earth be blessed" (Genesis 12:3). Because you are a spiritual heir of Abraham, your family will be blessed.

To protect against attacks of Satan, the family must grow together spiritually. Prayer and study of God's Word will bind the family together:

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)

The family must be in proper order before you assume leadership in ministry. New Testament requirements for leadership are that the home of leaders be in order. (See Titus l and I Timothy 3). Wrong emphasis on ministry has resulted in division in many Christian homes. To defeat Satan's strategy in this area, the home must be in scriptural order before a believer engages in ministry leadership positions.

Parents have a responsibility to discipline their children. The home problems of Eli and David resulted because of lack of discipline. The Bible instructs believers regarding this responsibility:

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes (early). (Proverbs 13:24)

STRATEGIES OF SATAN: FINANCIAL ATTACKS

Finances and material possessions of believers are another area Satan targets for attack. His attacks are launched in two major areas:

One: Financial loss through no fault of the believer. This is a direct attack of Satan on the finances or material possessions of believers.

Two: Attacks on finances or material possessions through violation of Scriptural guidelines.

The first type of attack is illustrated by the example of Job in chapters l and 2. Satan attacked Job's finances by destroying his herds (which was his business) and his home. The roof literally fell in! The Bible declares Job was a righteous man, so we know he was not in violation of Scriptural principles.

The second type of attack is illustrated by any violation of Scriptural guidelines. Satan knows if he can lead believers to violate Biblical principles, their finances will not be blessed. Without material possessions and finances they will not be able to support the spread of the Gospel to the nations of the world.

Study the following references to discover how Satan attacks in our finances:

• Improper business partnerships with unbelievers: II Corinthians 6:14-18 (This verse is often only applied to the marriage relationship, when in fact it is applicable to any union of believers with non-believers). • Debt: Romans 13:8 • Co-signing for debts of others: Proverbs 6:1-2 • Withholding payment when funds are readily available: Proverbs 3:27-28 • Withholding tithes and offerings: Malachi 3:1-12; Proverbs 11:24 • Dishonesty: Proverbs 16:8; Acts 5:3-4 • Fraud: James 5:3-4 • Unfair wages: Jeremiah 22:13 • Greed: Proverbs 28:22 • Intemperance: Proverbs 23:21 • Violation of government laws regarding money: Romans 13:6-7 • Laziness which results in poverty: Proverbs 20:13 • "Get-rich-quick" schemes: Proverbs 20:21; 28:22 • Love of money: I Timothy 6:10 • Business and financial situations creating "weights": II Timothy 2:4. • Regarding offerings lightly and receiving inordinate funds for personal gain: I Samuel 2:29